Improved folding chair



O. S. TWITGHELL. FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 69,276. Patented Sept. 24, 1867.

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CHARLES S. TWl'lCHELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES G. ENGLISH AND EDWIN F. MERSIUK, OF THE SAME PLACE.-

Lctters Patent N0. 69,276, dated September 24, 1867.

IMPROVED romaine CHAIR.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. TWITCHELL, of New IIavcn, in the county of New IIaven,-and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Folding Chairs; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which represents apersfpective view of a chair with myimprovemcnts applied.

My invention relates to the class of folding chairs in which on independent back is hinged or pivoted to the legs. In chairs of this kind there is nothing to hold the heel: and prevent it from droppingforward when the chair is unfolded, which often causes considerable annoyance and inconvenience. r

The object of my invention is to steady the back so as to retain it firmly in an upright position when the chair is unfolded or extended; and to this end it consists in combining or connecting the back of the chair with the front round by means of a band or webbing which, whether used as the seat or not, shall, when the chair is unfolded, maintain the back firmly and constantly in proper position.

Under my invention the chair is constructed substantially as follows: The back ishinged or pivoted to the top of the front legs, and its ends, whichextend below the pivotal point, are connected by a round or stop-bar, which, when thechair is unfolded, catches and rests against the front legs, and prevents the back from tilting over backwards. Now, although this arrangement is effective and advantageous in certain respects, nevertheless there is nothing to prevent the back from swinging-forward and dropping upon the seat. Its movement is only limited in one direction, and it is by no means steady and immovable, as it should be, when the chair is unfolded and in use. In order torcmedy this defectIconncct the bar which unites the two back standards, and constitutes, as just explained, the means for arresting their backward movement, with the front round of the chair (or round which connects the upper ends of the back legs) by means of a band or webbing of some suitable flexible material. The length of this band is about equal the distance between the back or stop-bar and the front round, so that the former, when the chair is unfolded, will be drawn against the front legs tightly, so as to hold the back in place and prevent it from dropping forward upon the seat.

To fullyillustratc my invention so that others may understand and use the same, I will now proceed to describe the manner in which it is or may be carried into effect, by reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

The chair there shown is unfolded, and has the carpet or flexible scat removed, so as to show my invention the more clearly. The chair consists of the front legs B and hind legs C, pivoted together at a, the lower ends of each set being connected by braces or bars 6, and their upper ends by bars F G, constituting respectively the front and back rounds, to which the seat or carpet is ordinarily secured. The back round G extends through the sides of the front legs 13, and constitutes the pivotal points 1), upon which the back standards A swing. The latter are connected at the top by an ordinary curved or bowed cross-piece, and their lower ends are elongated, so as to extend some distance below the pivotal point, and are connected by a cross-bar, E, which extends across in rear of the legs B. It will be seen that under this arrangement, when the standards A are swung back the bar E is brought in contact with thelegs B, and thus prevents the'further backward movement or tilting of the back. In order, however, to prevent the dropping forward of the back, which, as above explained, often occurs, much to the annoyance of the one using the chair, I connect the stop-bar E with the,

front round F by means of a band or strip, L, of .suitable material, which should be of such length as to be stretched tightly between the two rounds or bars when the chair is unfolded. It thus holds the bar E firmly against the legs B, and prevents any forward movement of the back.

The invention, the principal features of which I have just described, is susceptible of various modifications. For instance, there may be more than one band, which, instead of being attached to the front round F, can be secured to the upper part of the legs C, and the webbing or band may be used, not only for the purposes above alluded to, but also as the scat. To do this it is only necessary to increase the dimensions of the band to the required size, so that it shall extend far enough towards the sides of the chair to form a-comfortablc scat. Thus the webbing may be made to serve a twofold purpose, so as to admit of the ordinary seat or carpet, which extends between the rounds F G, being dispensed with. In case of any such arrangement as the one just referred to, the back standards A should lie-placed between instead of on the exterior of the legs B, for otherwise the upper-ends of the latter would be apt to incoinmode the sitter. The'back round G may also be removed,

. the legs and back being held together by double-headed rivets or other suitable means.

In order to have the back and front of the webbing'on at proper level when it is used as a seat, the upper portion of the legs B may be lengthened, or the like portion of the legs 0 may be shortened. So, too, order to admit of the chair being folded in the smallest practicnble compass, the legs in this case lying side by side when folded together. The band L may be made of any suitable material, such as leather, cotton, carpet, or it may be not only flexible, but elastic, being composed-0f rubber, &c.

Having described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried iuto'eilecl, what I the rounds b may he removed in ,cluim, and desire to seenre'by Letters Patent, is-

A folding chair, in which the back is hinged to the front legs, as described, and connected with the front part of the chair by a band which, whether'it constitute the seat or not, forms the means whereby the back is maintained upright when the chair is unfolded. r w I ,In testimony where'ofl have signed my name to this specifieetion before two subscribing witnesses.

, f CHARLES S. TWITCIIELL. Witnesses;

R. FITZGERALD, D. E. Msnciuxr. 

